Big day vs. Kentucky makes Tebow the one to beat

Running or throwing, Tim Tebow has been brilliant all season. Andy Lyons/Getty Images

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For the first time all season, this Watch has a clear leader: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. He has been a running and passing beast all year and has been this list¹s No. 1 off and on (more on). But after his five-touchdown day against Kentucky, and Mike Hart taking the day off against Illinois, Tebow has established himself as the one to catch. Luckily for his pursuers, there are games still to be played.

The ballot if the season ended today:

1. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB, Soph.

Last week: 18-of-26, 256 yards, 4 TDs; 20 rushes, 78 yards, 1 TD in a 45-37 victory at No. 8 Kentucky

Season: 115-of-174 for 1,711 yards passing, 17 TDs, 3 INTs; 125 rushes, 578 yards, 10 TDs

Heisman-o-meter: He looked like a winner on Saturday, hitting the deep ball, overpowering tacklers (it took four Wildcats to bring him down near the goal line on one play), controlling the game, etc. There¹s room on the Tebow-for-Heisman bandwagon, but a note to those who jump on: He¹s been this brilliant all season, not just the last week. Now, one must wonder how his bruised right shoulder will affect how many times he totes the ball and how he attacks, or doesn¹t, tacklers. A solid No. 1.

Up next: Saturday vs. Georgia

2. Mike Hart, Michigan, RB, Sr.

Last week: Did not play in a 27-17 victory at Illinois

Season: 200 rushes, 1,078 yards, 12 TDs; 7 receptions, 43 yards

Heisman-o-meter: Just like the theory that says a starter should not lose his job due to injury, I believe that a player should not lose his status on this list because he sits out a game to an injury. So, Hart stays at No. 2. It must have been a pretty bad ankle injury to keep this gutty back from playing against the Illini, so I¹m curious to see how that ankle looks on Saturday. As of Monday, he¹s expected to play.

Up next: Saturday vs. Minnesota

3. Matt Ryan, Boston College, QB, Sr.

Last week: Idle

Season: 192-of-304 for 2,148 yards passing, 17 TDs, 6 INTs; 20 rushes, 38 yards, 1 TD; 1 reception, 1 yard

Heisman-o-meter: I was shocked to see Ryan jump to the top of more than one Heisman list last week after his game against Notre Dame. His 291-yard, two-touchdown, one-interception effort wasn¹t close to being his best this season. But my guess is that voters, all of whom have NBC at home I presume, finally got to see what makes Ryan such a delicious candidate: the big arm, the poise in the pocket, the ability to stretch the field, etc. The Heisman could very well be won, or lost, when Ryan faces a Virginia Tech defense that ranks 13th in the nation.

Up next: Thursday at No. 8 Virginia Tech

4. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB, Jr.

Last week: 22 rushes, 110 yards; 2 receptions, 10 yards in a 44-8 victory at Mississippi

Season: 169 rushes, 932 yards, 7 TDs; 10 receptions, 71 yards; 5 kickoff returns, 122 yards; 1-of-2 passing, 42 yards, 1 TD

Heisman-o-meter: Last week, he was stuffed by Auburn. On Saturday, he was merely good against the Rebels. (Felix Jones arguably outplayed him again.) It¹s amazing that he¹s still ranked seventh in the nation in rushing even though he has maybe one extraordinary effort (195 rushing yards, two touchdowns against Alabama). With each week, as others on this list outperform him, it gets harder to keep sticking with the preseason favorite.

Up next: Saturday vs. Florida International

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